The embattled director of Michigan's civil rights department has taken a leave of absence, weeks after he was reprimanded for making inappropriate remarks about the appearance of a woman he saw outside a meeting.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she needs to have budget bills that include new money for roads on her desk by this time next month. But serious negotiations with the Legislature’s Republican leaders have not begun.

Gov. Whitmer tells Spartan editor Paula Davenport that her average day begins around 5:00 a.m. “whether it's necessary or not, that's when I get up and start moving. As governor, I can spend a 12-hour day in the office or I am frequently out on the road.”

Five Democratic governors of states in the Great Lakes region Monday urged the candidates in next year's presidential election to support a plan for safeguarding their shared waters by boosting federal spending on treatment plants and environmental cleanups.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said her veto pen is ready if the Legislature sends her a bill that would outlaw flying the gay pride flag – or any other un-official flag -- at state offices. The bill was introduced after Whitmer flew the rainbow flag to commemorate Pride Week.

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Rick Pluta reports on a bill to ban flags other than US and Michigan to fly on state buildings.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to allocate $15 million to a low-interest loan program to help farmers who face financial losses because wet weather is making it hard to plant crops.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a spending bill worth more than 28 million dollars. The money will be distributed to a variety of areas.

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a spending bill that puts more than $28 million dollars toward things like implementing new provisions in the Lead and Copper Rule and funding the Attorney General’s investigation into the Catholic Church. Cheyna Roth explains.